Methods and node apparatus for multiple node communication paths to a server within a wireless node network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for enhanced node communication within a wireless node network having nodes and a server. A first subset of nodes transmits first data messages to the server without using an intermediary device where the first data messages include sensed data generated by the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes about or around the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. A second subset of the plurality of nodes receives external data from the other of the nodes. The second subset of the plurality of nodes are intermediary devices that transmit the received external data to the server, wherein the received external data from the other of the nodes comprises sensed data about or around the other of the nodes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for enhanced communication within a wireless node network having a plurality of nodes and a server wherein each of the nodes being operative to generate sensed data about or around the nodes and/or receive external data from other of the nodes according to a server tracked logical connection between the nodes receiving the external data and the other of the nodes, comprising:
 connecting, by nodes of a first subset of the plurality of nodes, to the server using at least a first connectivity mode;   connecting, by nodes of a second subset of the plurality of nodes, to the server where the second subset of nodes act as intermediaries between the other of the nodes and the server;   transmitting, by the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes, first data messages directly to the server without using any of the plurality of nodes as an intermediary, wherein the first data messages include sensed data generated by the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes about or around the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes wherein the external data of the other of the nodes comprises data collected from one or more sensors of the other of the nodes;   receiving, by the second subset of the plurality of nodes, the external data from the other of the nodes; and   transmitting, by the second subset of the plurality of nodes, the received external data to the server, wherein the received external data from the other of the nodes comprises sensed data about or around the other of the nodes and wherein the sensed data comprises data collected from one or more sensors of the other of the nodes and wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors relates to at least one condition of packages associated with corresponding the other of the nodes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data messages comprise at least one of profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and sensor data of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor data comprises data collected from one or more sensors of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors relates to at least one condition of packages associated with corresponding nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node that serves as a bridge to the server for the other of the nodes in the wireless node network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as an integrated circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the other of the nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node to transmit the external data to the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the each of the other of the nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other of the nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node operative to communicate with the second of the nodes using a Bluetooth communication path. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node to transmit the first data messages to the server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node operative to communicate with the server using a cellular communication path. 
     
     
         14 . A system for enhanced communication within a wireless node network, comprising:
 a server disposed within the wireless node network; and   a plurality of nodes disposed within the wireless node network, wherein each of the nodes being operative to generate sensed data about or around the nodes and/or receive external data from other of the nodes according to a server tracked logical connection between the nodes receiving the external data and the other of the nodes;   wherein at least a first subset of the plurality of nodes and a second subset of the plurality of nodes are operative to connect to the server where the second subset of the plurality of nodes act as intermediaries between the other of the nodes and the server;   wherein nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes are operative to transmit first data messages directly to the server without using any of the plurality of nodes as an intermediary, wherein the first data messages include sensed data generated by the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes about or around the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes; and   wherein nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes are operative to receive the external data from the other of the nodes and transmit the external data to the server, wherein the external data from the other of the nodes comprises sensed data about or around the other of the nodes and wherein the sensed data comprises data collected from one or more sensors of the other of the nodes and wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors relates to at least one condition of packages associated with corresponding the other of the nodes.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first data messages comprise at least one of profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and sensor data of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor data comprises data collected from one or more sensors of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors relates to at least one condition of packages associated with corresponding nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node that serves as a bridge to the server for the other of the nodes in the wireless node network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as an integrated circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the other of the nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node to transmit the external data to the nodes of the second subset of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the each of the other of the nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the other of the nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node operative to communicate with the second of the nodes using a Bluetooth communication path. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node to transmit the first data messages to the server. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes implements the wireless transceiver-based node as a single chip integrated circuit. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the each of the nodes of the first subset of the plurality of nodes comprises a wireless transceiver-based node operative to communicate with the server using a cellular communication path.